Contracted Student Interns - Resource Management Plan Intern (UNPAID)

Position Information:

Contracted Student Internship:  Resource Management Plan Intern

Start/End Date: 1/19/2027 - 4/2/2027

Salary Rate:  $0.00 (UNPAID Internship)

Weekly Hours:   22.5 hours

Number of Openings:  1 position

Who We Are:

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts’ environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.   Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.

Who We Are as an Employer:

At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) oversees nearly half a million acres of land, making up one of the largest and most diverse state park systems in the country. Our work focuses on nurturing the vital connection between people and the environment by protecting, promoting, and enhancing our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the well-being of all. DCR infrastructure connects people to and through the beautiful landscapes and accessible recreational facilities we care for – strengthening our communities and driving our economy. Our staff strive to build a healthier, more resilient Massachusetts where all residents and visitors can relax, reflect and feel a sense of belonging in our open spaces and public lands. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr or contact us at mass.parks@mass.gov. 

Job Opening:

The Department of Conservation and Recreation, seeks applicants for a Resource Management Plan Intern - (Unpaid Contracted Student Interns) for 2027 Winter Semester to perform the following duties:

Please submit a cover letter and resume as part of the application process.

This internship is unpaid and designed to support students or recent graduates seeking practical experience in the field. Interns may be eligible to earn academic credit through their college or university.

General Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:

• DCR’s Resource Management Plan Program is housed in the Bureau of Planning, Design & Resource Protection. The program works statewide preparing Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for the agency’s parks, forests, and reservations. Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 21 § 2F) and DCR regulations (304 CMR 7.02) mandate preparation of the plans, as well as the plans’ essential plan components. The plans are foundational park management documents that define a property’s key natural, cultural, and recreational resources; provide direction for future land use (zoning); and identify priority recommendations for resolving conflicts between recreation, resource protection, and sustainable forest management. The Program is seeking an intern to complete special projects that will align management strategies with best practices and regulatory frameworks.

Detailed Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties and responsibilities will primarily consist of a special research project to advance agency policy or management practices. As time permits, the selected candidate may support routine RMP planning work. Special Projects (to be selected based on qualifications and interests of selected applicant): 

• Research and synthesize best practices for prevention of unauthorized trail construction on public lands. Prepare a menu of management activities and policy options that can inform RMP language (i.e. resource management threats, opportunities, and priority recommendations). 

• Research, synthesize, and prepare program guidance concerning public ownership and access to lakes and ponds in Massachusetts. Conduct a review of these waterbodies within DCR parks to ascertain agency ownership and stewardship responsibilities. 

• Research and prepare a biography, design philosophy, and checklist of surviving parks for agency landscape architect Egbert Hans. (Hans, an NPS and agency employee, was in charge of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) parks development in the 1930s in Massachusetts. The project will support the 100-year anniversary of the CCC.) 

• Routine RMP planning activities: Research park histories and land records, identify park management threats and opportunities from social media, compile and collate staff survey responses, keep public meeting minutes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework leading towards an advanced degree in one or more of the following disciplines: environmental policy, historic preservation, landscape architecture, parks and recreation management, urban or regional planning, or public history. 

• Strong research skills using academic and primary source materials. 

• Experience with Office 365 suite (Word, Excel, Teams). 

• Collaborative problem-solving and working in a team environment. 

• Selected candidate will report to the assigned office location 1-2 days weekly, with occasional site visits accompanied by their supervisor/manager.